Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the authors of the CHIPS Act of 2022 for including $52.7 billion to incentivize investments and continued American leadership in semiconductor manufacturing to help address supply chain disruptions and ensure that more semiconductors are produced here at home. Currently, only 12 percent of chips are manufactured domestically, compared to 37 percent in the 1990s. The CHIPS Act of 2022 will ensure the Congressional goal of promoting domestic competitiveness and the Act also includes safeguards to ensure that recipients of Federal funds from these programs cannot build advanced semiconductor production facilities in countries that present a national security concern.

Within my central Florida district is the NeoCity technology campus which is recognized as an emerging microelectronics manufacturing and advanced packaging hub, that has already made synergies with institutions of higher education across Florida and key partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Commerce. NeoCity is home to BRIDG, a not for-profit, public-private partnership specializing in domestic semiconductor research, advanced packaging, and manufacturing. Imec, a world-renowned international research and development organization active in semiconductor design and architecture. SUSS MicroTec and TEL, leading suppliers of equipment and process solutions for the semiconductor industry. And Sky Water Technology, the only U.S. owned and operated pure play trusted foundry, that works on leading edge advanced packaging technology. They all work in collaboration out of the Center for Neovation, one of the most state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facilities in the western hemisphere. As envisioned by this important legislation, the facilities, and experts at BRIDG, imec, SUSS MicroTec, TEL, and Sky Water Technology offer immediate capability to accelerate U.S. production of critical semiconductor chips, strengthen the domestic supply chain so chips are made in America, and turbocharge our research capacity. Equally as important, the NeoCity Academy, a public STEM magnet high school, is training the leaders of tomorrow's science and technology workforce.

I am proud of the work being undertaken in my district to support domestic semiconductor manufacturing technology development as they work to address the supply chain. I look forward to working with the Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce on implementation of the CHIPS for America Fund.

Additionally, I appreciate the inclusion of two provisions that I submitted that were included in the final passage, one amendment and one standalone bill. One COMPETES Act amendment was included to extend non-profits to be included in CHIPS funding. Specifically, the provision adds nonprofits to the definition of ``covered entities'' to expand the semiconductor incentive program to include nonprofit entities, which clarifies that non-profit entities like the 501(c)(3) fatalities in NeoCity are also eligible for funding under the semiconductor incentive program. Finally, I appreciate the inclusion of a standalone bill, H.R. 8545, that Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a blockchain and cryptocurrencies advisory specialist position within the Office to advise the President on matters related to blockchain and cryptocurrencies. OSTP advises the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, and the environment. it is critical to create such a position within OSTP to ensure there is a policy expert.

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